Παρασκευή, 29 Ιουλίου 2016

Albertus Magnus The Speculum Astronomiae

Albertus Magnus The Speculum Astronomiae

This text here, and the selection, p. 275 ff., of the main astrological sources, previously appeared as the edition and historical commentary of Alberto Magno, Speculum astronomiae, S. Caroti, M. Pereira, S. Zamponi eds., under the supervision of P. Zambelli, Pisa, Domus Galilaeana, 1977, to which the reader is referred for variants, and for a detailed list of the fifty-three Mss. with their respective contents (pp. 95-175), titles and attributions (pp. 177-181), as well as ancient editions (pp. 183-188) and compendiums{ pp. 189-193). There is also a glossary (pp. 197-206) and a and a list of authors and incipits of astrological works quoted in the Speculum (pp. 209-210). I need only mention here that the edition of the text was based on the two oldest Mss., indicated in the brief table below as Land P; in other words L, which is paleographically datable to the years 1260-1280 and therefore to the work's composition, and P which is approximately a generation later (end of the 13th Century or early 14th century). Since the two Mss. are entirely independent, their agreement establishes the text. After an analysis of all the Mss. (see below a short list of the complete series) based on fifteen sample passages, we had supplied a collectio variorum of four more recent 15th. Century Mss., two of which Cumont had already used for his partial edition (G and M), and two other which are in the same tradition of the older independent ones (B = P, A = L) although they partake of the widespread process of contamination common to 15th Century Mss.

PROEMOn account of certain books, which lack the essentials of science [and] which, since they are hostile to the true wisdom (that is, Our Lord Jesus Christ who is the image of the Father and [His] wisdom, by whom He [the Father] made the secular world), are rightly suspect by the lovers of the Catholic Faith, it has pleased some great men to accuse some other books which are perhaps innocent. For, since many of the previously mentioned books by pretending to be concerned with astrology disguise necromancy, they cause noble books written on the same [subject (astrology)] to be contaminated in the eyes of good men, and render them offensive and abominable. Therefore, a certain man zealous for faith and philosophy, [putting] each in its proper place, of course, has applied his mind towards making a list of both types of books, showing their number, titles, incipits and the contents of each in general, and who their authors were, so that the permitted ones might be separated from the illicit ones; and he undertook to speak according to the will of God.

CHAPTER ONE

There are two great wisdom's and each is defined by the name of astronomy. The first of these deals with [1] the science of the configuration of the first heaven; and with the nature of its motion about the poles of the equator of day [and night]; and with the heavens placed beneath it, which are placed on other poles away from the first. These are the heavens of the fixed and wandering stars, whose configuration is like the configuration of spheres enclosing one another. It also deals with [2] the science of drawing circles on them [the heavens], some of which are equidistant from the equator [i.e.: the tropics] and some concentric with it, but inclined from it [i.e.: the ecliptic]; and others have an eccentric center [i.e.: the eccentric referents], and some are small circles placed on the circumferences of the eccentrics [i.e.: the epicycles], and others are similarly placed above the center of the [concentric] equator by the [same] amount [i.e.: distance] as the eccentricity of the centers of the eccentrics [is] from it [i.e.: the equants]. [3] And [the first wisdom deals] with the size of each of them [i.e.: the circles] and its distance from the earth; and how the planets are moved by the motion of [their] deferent circles and the motion of [their] bodies on the [epicyclic] circles; and what happens to them because of the variation of [their] position[ s], so that there are invisible projections of rays and mutual eclipses of the sun and the moon and the other planets. [4] And [it deals] with their [i.e.: the planets] situation on the [deferent] circle of their apogee[ s] so that greater distance (elevation), less distance (depression), latitudinal motion in one direction (inflection) and in the opposite direction (reflection) happen there; and with [their (the planets) being] on [their] small circle [ s] [i.e.: epicycles], so that direct motion, station[ s] and retrogression [ s] happen there. [5] [It deals] with their situation with respect to the Sun so that combustion, being under the rays, rising, setting and also haustoria (that is, being to the right of the Sun in the east and of the Moon in the west) occurs there. [6] Also [it deals] with measuring the size of the sphere of the earth, both how much is habitable and inhabitable, together with all [its] parts both of land and of sea, and with the length of its [i.e.: the earth's] diameter; [7] also [it deals] with measuring the size of the bodies of the planets and the stars, which was made possible by using the size of the earth as their common means of measure. [8] And [it deals] with their distance from the earth according to the size of its [i.e.: the earth's] diameter. [9 ] Moreover, [it is concerned] with de- scribing the accidents which happen to the entire earth due to the alternation of day and night caused by the spinning of the [equatorial] circle; and with the ascensions of the signs in direct circles (which are hemispheres [related to] the equinoctial line [i.e.: right ascensions D; and in oblique circles (which are hemispheres [made relative to] the climes [i.e.: oblique ascensions]); and with the division of those climes according to the increase of a day [which is] longer by the amount of half an equal hour; and with the length of the times of day and night in each clime. [10] Moreover, [it deals] with the different summer created twice during the year by the transit of the Sun passing over the zenith in the regions lying between the equator [of the day and night] and the end of the second clime; [11] and with the description of the places beyond the climes, many of which are covered by the sea and have a single day and, similarly, a single night [lasting] longer than one or more revolutions of the heavens because the sun does not set in them for a long period of time, nor does it rise for another long [period of] time, until one arrives at [that point] beneath the poles about which the first heaven is moved, where the whole year becomes one day together with its night. This is one great wisdom, which, as I said, is defined by the name of astronomy, and it cannot be contradicted, save by someone who opposes the truth.